Event Comment: By Particular Desire. [The BM Playbill lists Mercury-Half past six went into ye Pit to see $Barry">Bannister.] Half past six went into ye Pit to see $Barry do Hastings and Mrs Dancer Jane Shore. Before ye play began, ended reading ye parts of Hastings, Jane Shore and Dumont. When ye Gods called for ye Prologue, York beckoned to be quiet. What authority these fellows assume! T. Barry did Dumont, but he will never be equal to his father. The Entertainment was Lethe. Old Man and Lord Chalkstone by Shuter. Garrick, who sat near me, laughed at his understanding ye character of Lord Chalkstone so little, as to say--"She married for money, and I for a title." Drunken man pretty well by Weston (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: A Tragedy for Warm Weather. Written after the manner of the Worst, as well as the Best of the English Poets, containing amongst a Variety of Particulars, curious, entertaining, and pathetic, the Rebellion of the Journeymen Taylors on the Score of Wages, etc. Neville MS Diary: Half past Six went to ye Haymarket Theatre but could not get into ye Pit or first Gallery, so stood on ye last row of the shilling Gallery, tho' I could see little, to see how ye Taylors, a new tragedy for warm weather, would go off, being the first night of its performance. 3rd Act hiss'd-ye Gods in ye shilling Gallery called for ye Builder's Prologue-hissed off ye part of ye Old Maid twice and Davies who came to make an excuse. The Gentlemen, many of whom were there, cried No Prologue" but to no purpose. At last Foote said if he knew their demands he would be ready to comply with them. The noise ceasing, after some time he was told the Builder's Prologue was desired. He said he had done all in his power to get the performers, having seen them. After some time he came and informed them he had got the performers together, and if the House would be pleased to accept of ye Prologue in our dresses as we are you shall have it." This was followed by great clapping which shows the Genius of our English mobility ever generous after victory. Left ye House after ye Farce began. [Flints were journeymen tailors who refused to comply with the masters' terms and the regulations of the magistrate, in contradistinction to those who submitted and were in derision stiled Dungs. The term dates from 1764-OED. An extract from the Occasional Prologue (the Builder's Prologue) in prose on the opening of the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket, by Foote published in the London Magazine July 1767, p. 351. Foote, Scaffold, and Prompter are the three participants. Foote tells Scaffold he will be paid by the audience. Scaffold notes that the audience must in that case be pleased at all times. Foote promises no long processions [will] crowd my narrow scenes." He assumes that any of the reforms he plans will but echo the public voice. The Prompter then calls the actors on.

Event Comment: Benefit for Jewell, Treasurer. Afterpiece: A Farce (for that Night only) taken from Congreve's Play of the Old Batchelour. Neville MS Diary: Half past six went to the Haymarket...out could not get into the Pit, Boxes or Galleries

Event Comment: NNeville MS Diary: Went to ye Pit to see ye Beggar's Opera-oblig'd to stand till ye play was over-Read some parts of ye Opera which I borrowed at Davies's, before it began and between the acts. Barry is a good Macheath, but most persons who have seen him when young observe that he has not ye activity and fire he then had. He sings tolerably as does Mrs Dancer; but both are greatest in ye acting part. Mrs D. is ye best Polly I ever saw, having that sensibility which your mere singing Pollys generally want. Mrs Mahon did Lucy with great ease and propriety, and has a good deal of expression in her countenance. Thomson has a force and mellowness of voice very suitable to ye character of Lockit. I do not think Weston excels in Filch. Shuter raised vast applause by adding, after Trapes has said "done under the Surgeon's hand'--"Oh dreadful and in such weather too!" Bannister in Mat added--"Die hard"--and Palmer in Budge--"Die game--" Mrs Gardner's pretending to get drunk in Mrs Slam is new. We had at ye end of Act 2 the Fing., of Act 3 a New Hornpipe, and at ye end of ye Opera the H. Peasant by $Miss Froment, with Duke and No Duke-of which I am tired

Event Comment: NNeville MS Diary: Read ye parts of Varanes and Athenais before I went into ye Pit to see ye Play of Theodosius. Barry and Mrs Dancer are excellent in Varanes and Athenais. Young Barry did Theodosius, and Sowdon Marcian, who, tho' ugly, has a pretty good person and is a tolerably good player. Liontine by Bannister

Event Comment: [G$Genest, V, 140, notes that Bannister's name does not appear in the playbill; the Public Advertiser bill, which does not specify any parts, includes Bannister as well as Strange, Loveman, Keen, and Smith, for which there is no support in the 1767 edition.] Before six went into the Pit to see the new tragedy of The Countess of Salisbury performed for the first time. One cannot judge perfectly of a Play without reading it, but it was received with vast applause. The author being an Irishman, Weston spoke a Prologue in the character of an Hibernian (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Theatre open at half past five. Play to begin half past six. Paid Supernumeraries & Kettle Drum 2 nights #1 7s. (Treasurer's Book). [This payment averaged #2 10s. per night throughout the season, or #470 total for the season. No further notation will be made of the item.] Receipts: #152 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid salary list #435 19s. (Treasurer's Book). Read the 2 remaining Acts of Rule a Wife...About 15 minutes past 4 went into ye Pit, and contrary to my expectation got a seat almost in ye middle of ye 3rd row, which I prefer to any other. Garrick played Leon. By having seen him in the character before, and having read the play, I enjoyed the excellency of his acting more than I ever did. King played the Copper Captain for ye first time, and did it very well. Pritchard is excellent in Estifania, Love and Baddeley were good in Cacafago and the Old Woman (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #202 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: At Half Past 5 went into the Pit to see Macklin do Shylock a second time...Woodward is inimitable as Squire Groom [in the afterpiece] Oblig'd to stand all night (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #227 2s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. At half past 4 went into the Pit to see Garrick do Archer a 3rd time....It is not agreeable to see Packer make love--he is oblig'd to do Aimwell, Palmer being ill....Moody does Hob pretty well, but not so well as Yates. Hartry did not do Old Hob so well as Parsons (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: At 5 went into the Pit to see Barry do Lear, being his first appearance on that stage these 10 years (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Half past 4 went into the first Gallery to see Barry do Othello. Holland is the best Iago we have (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Half past 5 went to the 5s. Gallery at the Opera House to see the comic opera La Buona Figliola, altered from Goldoni. The Music by Sg Nic Piccini, a Neopolitan composer. The Marq by Sg Lovatini, Castina by Sga Zamporini, the German by Sg Marigi. These I believe are reckoned the best of the company. I can't say I was greatly entertained, tho the music is very pleasing. There is something very absurd and truly characteristic of the present age in supporting a set of people at an immense expense to perform plays in a language which very few here understand. We had dances after every act by Sg Adriani, Sga Radicati, &c. It is said the dances at the opera are better than those at the theatres, but I am no great judge either of music or dancing. The scenes, particularly that of the Garden with waterworks &c. are very fine. They who go into the Pit &c. must be in a vile French dress (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Pit and Boxes to be laid together at 5s. First Gallery 3s. Upper Gallery 2s. Tickets to be had and places to be taken for the Boxes at Mr Sarjeant's (only) at the Stage Door of the Theatre. Books of the Performance will be sold there. The doors to be opened at Five. To Begin at Half past Six. Received of Toms and Arnold Charges of the House. #35

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Miss Thomas. Tickets to be had of Miss Thomas, No. 41, Great Portland-street; and of Rice at the Theatre, where places for the Boxes may be taken. To begin at 6:45. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Servants to keep places are requested to be at the Theatre at half past Five o'Clock

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. To prevent Confusion Ladies are desired to send their Servants by half past Four o'clock. Morning Chronicle, 25 Feb.: Tickets to be had of Smith, No. 7, Beaufort Buildings, Strand. Receipts: #325 17s. 6d.(163/2/0; 8/2/6; 0/16/0; tickets: 153/17/0) (charge: #65 10s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Siddons. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. To prevent confusion Ladies are desired to send their Servants by half past Four o'clock. Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years [acted 15 May 1782]. Afterpiece: Not acted these 5 years [not acted since 25 Mar. 1775]. [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Banquo to Bensley, but "Poor Bensley's illness last night took him off; but on another night he will give and take in the triumph" {Public Advertiser, 4 Feb.). In afterpiece he is assigned to The Guardian. On the Kemble playbill in both cases his name is deleted and MS annotations substitute Hull's.] "Macbeth at Drury-lane will. . . gag the drivellers who, on the failure of Constance [in King John], ventured a sweeping prophecy of condemnation that 'the Siddons never could play Shakespeare.' Would it not have been better to have borrowed Farren, rather than Hull, for Banquo?" (Public Advertiser, 4 Feb.). "'Why,'say some of the critics, 'should Mrs Siddons wear a white dress in her last scene of Lady Macbeth? She is supposed to be asleep, not mad.' What reason except custom can be given for a mad heroine appearing in white we know not [and see DL, 20 Dec. 1782]. Yet there is an obvious reason why a person walking in their sleep should wear a white dress of the loose kind worn by Mrs Siddons ... It [is] the nearest resemblance which theatrical effect will admit, to the common sort of night-dresses" (Public Advertiser, 7 Feb.). Receipts: #346 16s. (198/10/0; 7/2/6; 0/8/6; tickets: 140/15/0) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Benefit for a Fund for the Relief of those who from their Infirmities shall be obliged to retire from the Stage. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. To prevent Confusion Ladies are desired to send their Servants by Half past Four o'clock. [Mainpiece in place of Isabella, announced on playbill of 17 May.] Receipts: #292 (146/5/0; 10/12/6; 0/12/6; tickets: 134/10/0) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister. Morning Chronicle, 8 May: Tickets to be had of Bannister, No. 7, Suffolk-street, Charing-cross. Receipts: #518 19s. 6d. (146.11.0; 54.13.6; 19.16.0; tickets: 297.19.0) (charge: #221 6s. 8d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time in London; co 3, 1st acted at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, 30 Jan. 1784. MS: Larpent 703, not published]: Written by [Robert] Jephson [with lyrics by Sir Nathaniel Barry (Larpent MS). In 1787 abridged by John O'Keeffe as Love and War]. With new Scenes and Decorations. A new Overture by the celebrated Haydn. The Airs by David Rizzio, [J. C] Bach, Paisiello, Duni, Carolan, Shield and Tenducci [i.e. "The Music partly compiled by Tenducci; the new Airs composed by Shield" (notice on playbill of 11 May)]. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [Afterpiece in place of The Lying Valet, announced on playbill of 11 May.]

Event Comment: Benefit for Reinhold. Public Advertiser, 23 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Reinhold at his house, No. 90, Charlotte-street, Rathbone Place. Tickets delivered for The Castle of Andalusia will be admitted. Receipts: #309 (173/0; tickets: 430 in boxes, 140 in pit, 75 in gallery, totalling #136/0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister Jun. Public Advertiser, 24 July: Tickets to be had of Bannister Jun., No. 6, Great Russel-street, Covent Garden

Event Comment: Doors to open at half past Four. Play to begin at half past Six. Send servants to hold places by Four o'clock. [Mrs Vincent's deficit of 1st instant received #20 3s. 6d.] Paid scavenger's rate for St Martin's due Lady Day #5 1s. Paid printer's bill #9 6s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #262 7s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Went to Drury Lane, but could not get in. Stayed from half past 4, sometime at one Pit door, sometime at the other, till past 6, and got in at the right hand side just as the play began, and was dreadfully squeezed, but rewarded by seeing Garrick play Hamlet. The expression in his features, his eyes particularly, surpasses anything I ever saw. He is a little man, but handsome and full of that fire which marks the stronger, and of the softness natural to the tender passions. It is impossible to see his greatest excellencies from ye Gallery. Baddeley and Dodd are pretty well in Polonius and Ostrick. Mrs Baddeley and Yates do Ophelia and ye Grave Digger very well. Mrs Pritchard is great, as usual in ye Queen. Gravedigger's man-Castle. Horatio-$Mr Packer. Several parts of ye play, as it is in $Shakespeare, are omitted rather improperly...The Prince Brunswick, his wife and Louisa were present (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for Theatrical Fund. Doors open at 5 o'clock. Play to begin at half past 6. Last night of season. Cash in the Galleries #88, from Mr Johnston #211 18s. Total #299 19s. Paid in sundries (Rent #8; Soldiers 14s.; Properties 2s.; Bill Stickers 18s.; Candles, Oyl, Lampmen #3 18s. 6d.; Printer #2 13s. 6d.; Total #16 5s. 6d.; Box tickets 680 #170). Ladies and Gentlemen who have taken tickets for the Pit and Boxes are requested to be early at the Theatre, to prevent their being incommoded in getting to their Place. [N.B. 27 June 1767 the Gentleman's Magazine reports that Sg Tenducci "renounced the errors of popery, and embraced the protestant religion in Dublin."] Receipts: #299 19s. (Treasurer's Book). Instead of going to dinner put The Suspicious Husband in my pocket and read Ranger's part at the Somerset Coffee House. Dressed and at half past 5 went into the Front Boxes at Drury Lane to see The Suspicious Husband for the Fund for the Relief of Decayed Actors, being the last time of performing this season. The Pit and Boxes were laid together. Mr Garrick spoke an occasional Prologue and played Ranger. Though in the back row I saw him very well by the help of my glass...Before the Dance Mr Garrick saying that he would not have been able to do it after, in the name of the company and managers thanked the public for the favors received this season. Mr @@ asked me to go to Vauxhall after ye Play, but I chose rather to see Daphne and Amintor ye characters as usual (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for Powell. Ladies send Servants by 3 o'clock (playbill). Othello (for first time) Mr Powell. This Night there was the greatest over flow ever known. the Crowd was so great it prevented the Ladies from coming into the Boxes till near Seven o clock at half past Six begun the play. As the Ladies were not come into the Boxes, being prevented by passage being Stopt up by the Crowd the Gentlemen Cry'd out. off off &c. Mr King & Mr Havard remaind on the Stage some time but the Noise increasing. Mr King address'd the Audience & told them it would be equally agreeable to the performers to stay half an hour longer, upon which there was a great Clap & the Curtain was drop'd & a quarter before Seven begun the play again. N.B. The Farce was hiss'd all thro'(Hopkins). This night one of the greatest overflows that ever was known. The crowd was so great it preventdd the ladies from coming to their places in the boxes till near seven o'clock-At half past six the play began, and in the first scene they cried Off, off.' Mr King and Mr Havard remained on the Stage some time; but the noise increasing, Mr King went forward and said, It would be equally agreeable to the performers to stay half an hour longer, before they began-upon which there was a great clap, and the curtain was dropped; and in about a Quarter of an hour began the play again (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Receipts: #268 11s. (MacMillan). charges. #64 9s. [Profit to Powell: #204 2s.